Google Pixel 3: your new camera

When Google unveiled the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL this week, Google didn’t just launch a smartphone. It launched one of the best camera phones ever. It’s packed full of features to make sure your photography looks amazing. Here’s what makes the camera on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL so special.

The clever AI that helps you take a good photo

Not everyone knows how to capture the perfect shot. That’s where Google’s smart AI comes in. It acts like your personal photography assistant telling you what makes a good photo. It’s all possible thanks to Google’s Pixel Visual Core chip, which is nestled inside the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

It calculates things such as lighting conditions, contrast, brightness and automatically detects if a photo has a flaw so you can take it again.

Top Shot selects the best picture for you

Top Shot is another feature that makes sure your photos come out perfect every time.

Press the camera shutter button, and the Pixel 3 will shoot a series of photos at once. It then picks out the best one. That way you won’t miss that special moment, or capture your subjects with their eyes closed when it’s time to take a group photo.

Better zoomed photos

Even the best photos don’t always look great when you zoom in. Now they can with the help of Google’s Super Res Zoom technology.

Point your Pixel 3 at something, and it’ll digitally zoom in on whatever you’re pointing the camera at and sharpen the image. The result is beautiful close-up detail on subjects such as far away buildings and landscapes. Even when you zoom in on your photo after it’s taken, it’ll still look amazing.

Group selfies made easier

Pixel 3 has dual front cameras that are great at taking wide-angle selfies. You’ll no longer have to squeeze everyone in to try to get a good shot, use a selfie stick, or ask someone else to take the photo.

The results are amazing, see them for yourself in this Group Selfie Cam video from Google.

Capture your perfect smile

Want to capture your best smile shot? Then go into the Photobooth mode. It automatically takes a photo as soon as it detects a smile. It recognises all sorts of other expressions, too. Duckface, anyone?

Great photos even when it’s dark out

Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are great at taking photos in low light. The Night Sight mode promises an end to bad pictures on a night out. It takes photos that are brighter and sharper using Google’s AI – which senses lighting conditions to brighten the scene. Google reckons you’ll never use flash again.

Make movies like a pro

It’s not all about photos. You can also record video in stunning 4K quality at 30 frames per second, and in slow motion for dramatic short videos that you’ll love to share on Instagram. In fact, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL camera has been optimised for the social network, so every picture and video is Instagram ready.

How’d you like the sound of that, photo fans? You can order the Pixel 3 here. We’ll also throw in YouTube Music Premium worth £60 for 6 months. The same deal’s available on the 6.3-inch Pixel 3 - so if size matters to you, order the Pixel 3 XL here.